Human Trafficking

Bio Related to Bound
Jesus’ missions statement comes from Isaiah 61:1-4:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting o the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

Audrey Weiger is the Assistant Director of Admissions at Anderson University and pastor’s wife to Joshua Weiger, Youth Pastor at Park Place Church of God. Audrey has been advising Bound since its inception in 2010, and continues to advocate for people caught in human trafficking.

In 2010 she posted a question on Anderson University’s campus simply asking, “Would anyone like to know more about human trafficking?” Fully expecting half a dozen students to show up, she was met by about 40 eager students. They wanted to continue meeting and to start advocating and acting on the knowledge shared that night. Through their efforts, the student organization, Bound, was created.

Bound exists to partner with God and other organizations to help end human trafficking. They have since been a part of the soap project, helping women locally in domestic abuse shelters, supporting ministries that minister to women in strip clubs, raising funds for organizations in Cambodia, Thailand, India, and more, and supporting local government and NGO’s during the Super Bowl (one of the larger events around which human traffickers congregate) in Indianapolis.

We all continue to try to educate ourselves so that we can affect change, and hopefully by doing that, by praying, by getting involved, by creating healthy relationships with children and students we know, we’ll see more of the mission of Jesus at work in our world.

Meet Rev. Dr. Juanita Evans Leonard

Rev. Dr. Juanita E. Leonard is an ordained minister of the Church of God and Professor Emeritus, Anderson University School of Theology. In addition she serves as a consultant for mission organizations – presently serving as Vice Chairperson of Pathways/Africa, a humanitarian organization working with educational and community development needs in Eastern and Southern Africa. She has a M.S. in Social Service from Indiana University, a Post Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in Missiology and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.